Contents

pp v-xiv

Acknowledgments

pp xv-xvi

Foreword

pp xvii-xxxiv

A Note on Transliteration and Dates

pp xxxv-xxxvi

Glossary of Measurements

pp xxxvii-xxxviii

Preface

pp xxxix-xl

PART I

pp 1-2

Chapter 1 - First impressions of the Sakhalin coast • Time aboard the steamer on the run to Aleksandrovsk Post • Transfer of penal laborers to the wharf • Prisoners’ baggage • A view of Sakhalin’s shorelines • First encounter with Warden L— — • Anticipating dinner • Along the road to Aleksandrovsk Post • In the prison yard • Distribution to the barracks

pp 3-8

Chapter 2 - Searching for food • Invitation from the warden • His favorite trick • Supper • Morning impressions • Punishment with birch rods • The method of registering penal laborers • The warden’s irritation • Deprivation of all personal rights

pp 9-14

Chapter 3 - Dinner • An alarming noise in the canteen • The failed attempt on Warden L— — ’s life • Prisoners’ malevolence • A penal laborer’s death by gunfire • A walk outside the prison • Assignment to Tymovsk District • Administrators’ opinions regarding the wounding of Warden L— — • A meeting with him

pp 15-18

Chapter 4 - Meeting the educated exiles • Their solicitousness and attention • Examples of conflict over the cap issue • Priest Georgii Salˊnikov • Penal laborers’ petitions • Prisoners’ dinner • Bakers’ difficult situation

pp 19-22

Chapter 5 - The penal laborers’ march to Tymovsk District • Bivouac in Novo-Mikhailovsk settlement • An unwelcome task • We approach the Pilinga Mountains • Sakhalin flora • Across the ridgeline • The convoy guards’ revelation • District commander Butakov • Weariness • The Tym Valley

pp 23-26

Chapter 6 - Rykovsk settlement • The Sakhalin prisons’ natural barrier • Artist K.’s hospitality • Installation in a workshop • The bathhouse • First katorga jobs

pp 27-30

Chapter 7 - Assignment as a carpenter • My sickly constitution • Sakhalin’s keta salmon • Poisonous fish • Night blindness • Carpentry work • Auditorium in the church square • Relations with workers • Incident with Masiukevich • Exiles’ conscience

pp 31-34

Chapter 8 - My comrades • Difficulty living together • The latrine watchman • His good soul • Old type of prison garb • Penal laborers’ vulgarity • Rykov, founder of the Tym Valley settlement

pp 35-38

Chapter 9 - The situation in the Tym Valley • Farming conditions • Rykovsk settlement • Exile-settlers’ dinners • The new warden F.’s relaxations • A bed along the way and on Sakhalin • The ward’s unhygienic conditions • Doctor Sasaparel • His patience

pp 39-42

Chapter 10 - The warden’s efforts to build a church • My assignment as a chorister • A temporary church in the barracks • The hatchet-wound • My importance to the church choir • Hieromonk Iraklii • His self-exhaustion as a youth • The cleric’s special importance to Sakhalin • New jobs

pp 43-46

Chapter 11 - Katorga assignments • Wood-cutting • The expedition • Six nighttime workers • The taiga in winter • Felling trees • Penal laborers’ log-hauling • End of the workday

pp 47-50

Chapter 12 - The difficulty of katorga • Blizzards • Logging during the mud season • The workers’ barracks at night • Vacations • Sawyers • Guards • Their lives on the island and on the mainland • Golubev

pp 51-54

Chapter 13 - Headmen-executioners • Punishment with birch rods • Headmen-maidanshchiki • Ivan Lebedev • The sanctioned whip • The schismatic Katin • Punishment with lashes

pp 55-58

PART II

pp 59-60

Chapter 1 - A new assignment • M. A. Krzhizhevskaia • Her work • The meteorological station • Secret philanthropy

pp 61-64

Chapter 2 - A change of situation • An official’s sympathy • My attitude toward him • First winter mail • Anticipating correspondence • Inspecting letters • Making Butakov’s acquaintance • The importance of letters in exile

pp 65-68

Chapter 3 - Preparing the new church for Easter • A passion for work • My importance as a church headman • Building a garden • Botanical excursions • Leaving the prison • Departing comrades’ situations • Butakov’s dangerousness • His renown on the island

pp 69-72

Chapter 4 - The temptation of an artless existence • America’s woodland residents • Sakhalin Giliaks • Chubuk and Matrënka • Kindhearted Kanka • Mutual gifts • Giliaks’ unclean crowding • Their welcome and entertainment

pp 73-76

Chapter 5 - Recording Giliak fables • A comparison of Giliaks with Vancouver Island’s inhabitants • Their degeneration • The lack of brides • Giliak religions • Orthodox missionaries’ lack of success • Giliak guards • False shame

pp 77-80

Chapter 6 - Solitary and general prison confinement • The boy Semën Alaev • Sakhalin children • An apartment in a schoolhouse • Children’s adventurous games • The teacher Iurkevich • His success working with children • A new school

pp 81-84

Chapter 7 - The murder of choirmaster Gennisaretskii • A quiet time in the life of the prison • My old acquaintance L— — is named warden • My meeting with him • Petitioning for comrades • The tightening measures over penal laborers • The prison’s model orderliness and external cleanliness

pp 85-88

Chapter 8 - Morning impressions • Victims of discipline • The warden’s cruelty • My altercation with him • L— — ’s kindness • The nature of his conversations with laborers • Concessions towards the end of his service

pp 89-92